Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in beauty and cosmetics but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Julie Koritko, owner of GlowPro Tans, located in Pittsburg, PA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

GlowPro is for savvy beauty consumers who want the highest-performing products at the most competitive price.

Tell us about yourself

Honestly, I created each GlowPro product for myself. I wasn't looking to create a brand; I just wanted a better, salon-strength self-tanner. I knew how to do airbrush tans, but I wanted to put the same powerful formula into a self-applied bottle.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Our Instagram community is pretty much solely responsible for the rise of GlowPro. I didn't have a business plan or any financial goals, but people on social media were promoting my products through word-of-mouth, and that let me know my self-tanner actually was different and better than what else was out there.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Starting out, I was a makeup girl, not a businesswoman. Luckily, I started young and didn't have the financial pressure that a lot of other entrepreneurs do to fit high revenue numbers right away. I really had to seek out resources to educate myself on advertising, SEO, and PR.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Start now. Even if you don't think you're ready, start now. Nothing is going to happen overnight. Your product/service is never going to be perfect. The best experience comes from doing.
  2. Get your hands dirty. I packed every order myself for three years straight. I taught myself basic HTML to create a website. You need to understand the processes that make your business.
  3. Niche down. If you appeal to everyone, you appeal to no one. Be your own customer archetype so you can really build a community and know your audience.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.glowprotans.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glowprotans
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glowprotans/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-koritko-591106197/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.